Captivating Rio de Janeiro
Dance samba at a Carnaval experience, learn to cook famous Brazilian dishes, and explore Black Rio.
Experience Afro-Brazilian Culture In Rio de Janeiro
August 30 - September 6, 2025
We’ll visit Rio’s Little Africa, dance Samba in the streets, cook and taste local dishes, have a Carnaval Experience, and chase waterfalls.
This is our inaugural Rio trip, but peep us in Salvador, Brazil. Different city. Same fly sh*t.
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About your trip
Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s most famous city for a reason.
We’ll visit Rio’s Little Africa, dance Samba in the streets, cook and taste local dishes, have a Carnaval Experience, chase waterfalls, and more fly sh*t.
What’s included
All activities listed on the itinerary
Boutique hotel accommodations in single rooms
Transportation to and from the airport (only on trip start & end date)
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
Professional group photography
Community pre-trip virtual town hall
Buoyant Rio Travel Guide
WhatsApp group message
Experienced local tour guides and a Buoyant host with you throughout the trip
Airfare in and out of the country
Visa costs
Incidental expenses
Meals not listed on itinerary
Alcohol except where noted
Tips
Not included
Itinerary
Flight
Please remember to book your flight to land in Rio by 4 PM.
Day 1
Arrival in Rio (GIG) | welcome dinner & R&B street party
Day 2
Explore Rio | Cooking Class & Santa Teresa walking tour
Day 3
Explore Little Africa | Immersive Black History Tour & samba street party
Day 4
Do you | Free day
Day 5
Going up | Christ The Redeemer visit
Day 6
Chasin’ Waterfalls | Tijuca Forest experience
Day 7
Tapped In | Favela Rocinha cultural visit & Capoeira class
Day 8
Depart from Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International (GIG)
Trip Cost: $3,950
Deposit: $350
Monthly payment plans available — Book below 👇🏾
YOUR ITINERARY
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YOUR ITINERARY *
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Bem-vindo (Welcome) to Rio! Our team will pick you up from RIOgaleão - Aeroporto Internacional Tom Jobim and whisk you to our cozy boutique accommodations in the city's heart.
A Buoyant welcome gift will await you, and as you settle into your home for the week, we'll be preparing for tonight's welcome dinner. You will get your first taste of Brazil with an authentic three-course meal experience.
After dinner, we'll dance the night away at Rio's best R&B street party.
Saude!
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Local Cooking Class & Market Visit
Today, we will eat our way around Rio with a visit to the Gloria Street Market, where we'll taste pastries and the national cocktail, caipirinha. For a more immersive experience, roll up your sleeves for a local cooking class.
Santa Teresa Walking Tour
We'll spend the afternoon walking the streets of the popular Santa Teresa neighborhood, full of shops, galleries, and street art.
Of course, we'll make a pit stop for photos at the famous Selaron Stairs.
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Black Rio Immersion Little Africa Walking Tour
You came to Brazil with us to learn about Afro-Brazilian culture, and today, we're diving in with an immersive walking tour of Rio's Little Africa neighborhood.
Carnaval Experience
Rio and Carnaval go hand-in-hand. This experience will take us inside the city's largest samba school to learn the history of the tradition and a costume try-on experience.
Samba Street Party
Every Monday night, locals and visitors flock to this famous street party and dance to samba tunes all night long—we're tapping into this local tradition.
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Spend today however you please, in bed or on the beach. Do you!
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Christ The Redeemer Visit
Today, we'll visit one of Rio's most famous landmarks, Christ The Redeemer. No matter your religious background, it's a sight to see.
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Tijuca Forest
It's time to chase waterfalls. Today, we'll explore the lush Tijuca Forest (built by our enslaved ancestors) for an easy hike and a waterfall soak.
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Favela Rocinha Cultural Visit & Capoeira Class
It's time to tap into more local culture during this visit to the Rocinha Favela. We'll support local Black businesses and participate in a Capoeira Class, where we'll learn the history of the Afro-Brazilian martial arts form that began during enslavement.
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Até mais (see you later)! We're sad to see you go, but thank you for experiencing Rio with us. Until next time.
YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS
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YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS *
Boutique hotel | Steps from the beach | Single rooms
THIS EXPERIENCE IS FOR YOU IF:
You A Vibe
We welcome all Black folks from across the diaspora to join us with open-mindedness and good energy for connecting with new people and experiences.
You Grown, Grown
We grown and sharing rooms isn’t our thing. Every traveler on this trip gets a single-occupancy room, and unlike other companies, we won’t charge you more for traveling solo.
You Love Black People
We envision a united diaspora. We designed this experience to connect you with cool people, places, and businesses in Ghana.
Important Notes
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Please plan to arrive in Rio by 4 PM on August 30, 2025.
We usually have our welcome dinner around 7 PM, so landing earlier allows time to settle into the hotel before dinner.
If your flight arrives after the welcome dinner, causing you to miss the experience, please plan to eat at the hotel’s restaurant (or elsewhere) at your own expense.
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US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders require a visa to enter Brazil beginning April 2025.
Learn more here: https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/
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Of course! Payment plans are available from the time of booking through July 1, 2025. If you book after this date, full payment is due when you book the trip.
A non-refundable $450 deposit is due at booking.
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All travelers will get a private single-occupancy room. However, if you’re traveling with a loved one, we can ensure you’re roomed together.
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Yes! All trip attendees must share a copy of their passport, round trip flight, Brazil tourist visa, and emergency contact information.
We require copies of these documents in case of an emergency and confirm that your documents are valid before traveling to Brazil with Buoyant.
We'll send you a secure link to share this sensitive information. Travelers must submit all documents by October 1, 2025, at 6 PM EST.
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We design our trips to include a mix of experiences that aren't 100% luxury or budget; we exist for Black travelers, our kinfolk, who enjoy both types of travel. Buoyant kinfolk are like bougie aunties and uncles who still love a good deal.
You probably enjoy splurging on a unique dining experience but love street food. You adore well-designed spaces, like charming boutique hotels, and are excited to have authentic, local experiences that help connect you with Black history and culture.
Most of all, you understand that the places we're visiting are layered and nuanced. We travel knowing we are guests in someone's home, and we respect the land and people as such.Our kinfolk are adventurous, open-minded travelers who deeply value Black history and culture and are independent.
While we always provide quality customer service, we also always allow free time to explore on your own or relax and rejuvenate because we believe rest is our birthright.
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Check out reviews from our previous clients here: https://bit.ly/48Tdwwv
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For all trips booked before July 1, 2025, you may receive a full refund up to 48 hours after booking. Trips booked after this date aren’t eligible for 48-hour refunds.
After 48 hours, all deposits and future payments are non-refundable.
Life happens! If you must cancel after 48 hours, we can transfer your trip place and payments to someone else.
If you cancel after 48 hours, we may issue you future trip credits at our discretion.
To cancel, email hello@buoyanttravel.com
WHAT OUR KINFOLK SAY
Saidah B.
Wonderful experience with a wonderful group ! Briona was such a warm and welcoming host. This was my first travel group and I was quite nervous but I am so glad I took the risk and this was my first travel group experience. The activities were well thought out, from good tour to Afro Punk to the historical tour of beautiful Salvador, I truly enjoyed myself.
Jalena T.